With guys
like Lawrence Jackson and Brian
Cushing on the outside and Sedrick
Ellis on the inside, the nation's
No.17 run defense will still
be tough to penetrate. QB John
David Booty will be on most
preseason Heisman watch lists.

Receiver

If Dwayne
Jarrett decides to turn pro,
USC will lose their top two
pass catchers (Steve Smith,
too). Plenty of youngsters have
been waiting in the wings.

WR
Dwayne Jarrett

LB
Keith Rivers

* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and players
that received the most playing experience (consistent
starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance
of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups
and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our
full 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming
spring.

SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA 2007 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters/Key
Players

OFFENSE

QB

John
David Booty-Sr

Mark
Sanchez-So

FB

Jody
Adewale-Sr

Allen
Bradford-So

TB

C.J.
Gable-So

Chauncey
Washington-Sr

Emmanuel
Moody-So

WR

Dwayne
Jarrett-Sr

Vidal
Hazelton-So

WR

Patrick
Turner-Jr

..

TE

Fred
Davis-Sr

Dale
Thompson-Sr

OT

Sam
Baker-Sr

..

OG

Drew
Radovich-Sr

..

C

..

..

OG

Chilo
Rachal-Jr

..

OT

..

..

K

Mario
Danelo-Sr

..

DEFENSE

DE

Lawrence
Jackson-Sr

..

NT

Sedrick
Ellis-Sr

..

DT

Fili
Moala-Jr

Chris
Barrett-Sr

DE

Brian
Cushing-Jr

..

SLB

..

..

MLB

Rey
Maualuga-Jr

Thomas
Williams-Sr

WLB

Keith
Rivers-Sr

Kaluka
Maiava-Jr

CB

Cary
Harris-Jr

Kevin
Thomas-Jr

CB

Terrell
Thomas-Sr

..

SS

Kevin
Ellison-Jr

..

FS

Taylor
Mays-So

Josh
Pinkard-Jr

P

Greg
Woidneck-Jr

..

QUICK
ANALYSIS

Recruiting
has finally caught up with USC...in a bigtime
positive way. Even if the normally large
amount of (underclassmen) NFL departures
hit the Trojans in the off-season, this
team is stacked with depth for the long
haul (see recruiting). USC brings back the
most starters and experienced players out
of any team in the Top 15. A defensive unit
ranked in the Top 25 in 2006 for total defense
returns every significant contributor outside
of LB Dallas Sartz. QB John David Booty
improves in his second year as a starter
as the shadows of Matt Leinart and Carson
Palmer will nearly be gone. Look for Booty
to continue the QB traditions at Troy and
even dot a few early Heisman watch lists.
Upwards of four different RBs have garnered
starting experience in big games. Should
Jarrett choose to leave, the WR corps will
be the most inexperienced unit. But names
such as highly touted Vidal Hazelton will
again reload this area, and Fred Davis will
be one of the top preseason candidates for
the John Mackey Award (nation's top tight
end). This team is loaded and it would be
surprising to see the Trojans fall below
a No. 3 ranking when the preseason polls
start to roll out next summer.